Do Hand Tied Extensions Cause Damage?
There’s something absolutely magical about hair extensions, isn’t there?
They can turn a bad hair day into a great one, and for those of us who may have regretted chopping off our locks, they basically give us the ability to time-travel.
Another awesome thing about hair extensions? There’s a style for everyone.
There are clip-in extensions, tape-in extensions, sew-ins, and, of course, hand-tied extensions.
Now, hand-tied extensions aren’t among the most common extension types (like tape-ins or sew-ins), but that doesn’t mean that they’re equally effective and just as beautiful.
It’s common knowledge that different types of hair extensions can cause varying levels of damage.
So while extensions are undeniably gorgeous, some people may not find them to be worth the aftermath.
Which begs the question, do hand-tied extensions cause damage?
The truth is, with proper care and a mindful application, hand-tied extensions are among the least damaging extension types out there!
But what makes them so unique? And what hair types would work best with this type of extension? Learn all of this, and more, while you read on!
What Are Hand-Tied Extensions?
Hand-tied extensions are among the most invisible types of extensions on the market.
One could say they’re comparable to sew-in extensions, but instead of sewing the extension into a cornrow taut on the base of the scalp,
you’re sewing them into a chain made of a row of beads near the root of your hair.
What makes hand-tied extensions so appealing is that they don’t require any glue or heat to apply.
This does make the process a bit more extensive than a typical extension application.
But it’s immensely less damaging, and you’ll have no sticky residue to clean off when you’re ready for removal.
Can You Do These Extensions At Home?
Unlike the very accessible clip-in extensions, you likely won’t be able to apply hand-tied extensions yourself (and if you are, we’re seriously impressed).
The process is quite long and extremely precise, so you may want to save up some money in order to get your extensions professionally installed.
When installed correctly, hand-tied extensions are the gentlest form of extensions you can have in your hair.
Since they’re sewn into a base point slightly lower than the root of the hair, they’re far less likely to cause pain and pulling, and your hair won’t be damaged by glue or high heat.
While incredibly appealing, there is a downside to this extension type: they’re not for everyone.
There are hair types, as well as hair lengths, that are more suitable for this type of hair extension than others, so before you book your salon appointment, make sure they’re the best fit for you!
Which Hair Types Are Best For Hand-Tied Extensions?
For the safety of your hair and to reduce the damage done to your scalp, you want to ensure:
For those with very thick hair, you may find that hand-tied extensions don’t hold well on your locks.
Since your hair is on the denser side, the silicone beads they use to create a base on your hair may not lie flat, causing your extensions to look uneven when your hair is down.
If you have extra-curly hair, we recommend trying sew-in extensions over hand-tied.
Just like with thick hair, the beads used in hand-tied extensions aren’t likely to stay in place if you have coils.
Using a stronger base, like the cornrows used in other methods, will be far more compatible with your hair type, leaving you with extra-secure, more natural-looking results.
In terms of your cut, you’ll want to make sure that your hair isn’t too blunt.
Hand-tied extensions aren’t made to look sharp and straight at the ends, but rather cascade into more of a wispy finish.
The same rule applies to most types of hair extensions: the wispier your natural hair finish, the easier it is for the extension to blend into your hair.
Hand-tied extensions work extra well on those with pin-straight to slightly wavy hair textures.
It’s also easier for the beads to stay in place on a finer lock, so if you’re looking for an extension type that adds length as well as volume, this is a great pick.
Having fine, less textured hair will allow the beads to lie flat against the scalp, giving them a more natural look and concealing the wefts of hair with your natural mane.
What we’re looking to achieve is a seamless finish, and that can only be achieved if your hair is from a thin to average density.
Any thicker, and you risk your hair looking bumpy at the root.
As for length, you’ll want your hair to land at least to your collarbone.
If your hair is any shorter, the extensions will look obvious and far less voluminous than your natural strands.
If your hair passes all the tests, you’re the perfect candidate for hand-tied extensions. So, what’s next in store for you?
How Are The Extensions Applied?
When you’re in the chair, you’ll notice a couple of tools laid out in front of you: a loop, which your stylist will load with silicone beads.
The weaving thread and a curved needle are used to sew the extensions into place.
Curved pliers are used to secure the bead onto your strands. Hairspray, to make your natural locks easier to work with.
Assorted types of clips and clamps to section off your mane. And of course, the hair wefts and hair glue!
The glue will only come in contact with the fake hair, so you can rest assured knowing that the strongest “chemical” that’ll come near your locks during this process is hairspray!
Your stylist will begin by parting your hair above the ears, then curve it down towards the nape of your neck, creating a “U” shape on your scalp.
They’ll smooth it down with hairspray and load their loop with the correct size and amount of beads best for your hair density.
From here, they’ll take a small square of hair from the parting made, and loop a bead through it, clamping it shut with a pair of pliers.
This process shouldn’t hurt, nor should the bead pull on your hair, so don’t hesitate to let your stylist know if you’re feeling uncomfortable.
Remember, this is the most gentle of extension types, involving absolutely no damage, so pain shouldn’t be a concern.
As they continue applying beads to your hair, note where the beads land. They should be close to your scalp, but not taut.
They typically land just short of a centimeter below the root. Each section will be an equal distance away from the other, each bead containing a very fine amount of hair.
Once your stylist has finished applying beads throughout the entire parting hair, they’ll move on to gluing together multiple wefts of hair to the thickness best suited for your hair type.
Next, they’ll clip these wefts on top of the row of beads they just made, hiding the line of beads from sight.
Then they’ll pull out a long piece of thread; it may seem excessive.
But it’s far better than running out of thread and needing to tie two ends together, which will compromise the neatness of your extensions.
They’ll make their first stitch at the end of the weft and through the first bead, each stitch proceeding through the next bead in line to be threaded.
Once they reach the end of the row, they’ll tie a knot and may stitch back a couple of spaces to secure the wefts in place.
Depending on how thick you and your stylist have decided they want each row to be, they’ll go ahead and stitch another line of extensions to this same row.
Your stylist will continue sectioning off areas of hair, attaching the beads, and sewing wefts of hair onto the base row.
Another important reason to get this process done professionally is that your stylist is trained on distributing the weight of the extensions evenly throughout the hair.
This is important not only for the longevity of your extensions but also for your personal comfort.
It’s a long process, yes, but one well worth it.
By the end of the session, which can last as long as 5 hours, depending on what you want the final result to be, no one—maybe not even you—will be able to tell your real hair apart from the wefts.
Another plus is that these types of extensions are very thin and very fine, so you won’t experience the “heaviness” that you might feel with other types of extensions.
How To Care For Your Extensions
These types of extensions are great for anyone looking for something low-maintenance.
They feel and look so natural that it’s easy to forget that you even have extensions in the first place.
Luckily for you, you don’t have to switch up your routine too much to keep these extensions looking as good as the first day of installation.
Look for a shampoo that’s gentle and free of sulfates, parabens, and other chemicals that could potentially weaken your natural hair.
We want to keep your roots strong so that the beads have something healthy to hold on to.
If you’re the type of person to use a lot of products on your hair, give them a quick lookover to make sure that you’re not using any products that have silicone.
This could loosen the bead in your natural locks, causing it to slip. The same advice goes for those of us who are fans of hair oils.
If you must use them, try to focus it onto your ends instead of the rest of your hair.
While you should focus on cultivating and keeping a healthy scalp, that doesn’t mean that your fingers should be near your roots all of the time.
Not only will this produce more grease (more grease, more chance of slipping beads!), but you could even physically dislodge a bead from its rightful place.
That means, if you’re the type of person who runs their fingers through their hair out of habit, you may want to try to break it while you have extensions in.
For those unavoidable moments of touching, like while you’re washing or brushing your hair, be extra mindful.
While the beads in your hair are unlikely to fall loose throughout the day,
it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re built to withstand the strength of your fingertips rubbing shampoo throughout your scalp (even if you’re being extra gentle).
You can wash your ends as you normally would, but for the scalp area, we recommend lightly combing the suds through your hair with your fingers.
If you haven’t adopted a haircare routine that involves only washing your hair 2-3 times a week, now is a good time to start.
Reducing the number of times you wash your hair will actually reduce the amount of grease your scalp produces over time, keeping your hair cleaner and longer.
Clean locks are easier for the beads to grip, and you’ll reduce the risk of messing with your extensions, too!
Some of us are okay with going to sleep with damp, or even wet, hair.
While we don’t recommend you do that with your natural locks, we definitely don’t recommend it if you have hand-tied extensions in.
This is a surefire way to cause tangles and breakage, as well as some pretty severe damage to your natural hair (since your follicles are extremely delicate when they’re wet).
As for heat, be just as mindful as you would be of your real hair. Just because extensions don’t come out of your own scalp, it doesn’t mean that they’re any less delicate.
Minimize your use of heat, and if you do need to use it to style or dry your hair, make sure you use a good-quality heat protectant.
Other than those key changes, you are free to live your life as you normally would!
You can do all the styles you did before you had extensions, swim as you usually would, etc.
The world is your oyster, and you can take it on with fabulous hair to match!
Related Questions
How long do hand-tied extensions last?
You can use the same hand-tied wefts for 6-8 months after initial installation, provided you take care of them well!
Of course, you’ll need to get them professionally moved up as your roots start growing in.
It could take anywhere from 5 to 10 weeks to see noticeable growth that warrants a salon visit, but it’s important to avoid causing too much tension or damage to your natural hair.
While it’s true that the better you take care of them, the longer you can keep them in,
You must take action to get them removed once you reach around the eight-month mark, as the integrity of the extension will be compromised at this point.
Thankfully, this treatment is so safe for your hair that you can get a new set installed as soon as you remove the old one!
How much do hand-tied extensions cost?
This is a timely process that uses high-quality products. The wefts themselves can cost hundreds of dollars, and the installation even more.
Expect to pay between $700 and $2,000 to cover the cost of the hair and the procedure to put it in.
It may seem steep, but the extensions are built to last. If you take good care of them, you can have them for up to eight months.
That means, even if your initial set cost $2,000, you’ll theoretically only be spending $250/a month, a fair price to pay for great hair!
